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Rankings · Jobs
Share of workers who are self-employed.
This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.
Workers in their own unincorporated business, as a share of the civilian employed. High in farming and ranching counties, in resort towns built on trades and services, and in places with a strong freelance economy. Excludes people who incorporated, so it understates small business owners somewhat.
Montana has the highest published self-employed in this comparison, at 9.0%. The next states shown are Vermont (8.7%) and Maine (8.3%).
The table orders 51 states by share of workers who are self-employed. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.
Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Workers in their own unincorporated business, as a share of the civilian employed. High in farming and ranching counties, in resort towns built on trades and services, and in places with a strong freelance economy. Excludes people who incorporated, so it understates small business owners somewhat.
Free to use. The chart names its source and links back, so it stays honest wherever it ends up.
<iframe src="https://movermath.com/embed/self-employed" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Share of workers who are self-employed by state"></iframe>Source: U.S. Census Bureau. · How this is built